16 June 2013
We have been living in the old house for two years now. What have we achieved?
We have saved the cookhouse from falling down. It is a very temporary repair, but we can use the building as a workshop now.
Originally our target was to do one room every six months. When I set that target, I forgot to take outside work into account.
We have managed to sand down and repaint about 80% of the outside walls. That implied sanding down to bare wood. The remainder is the outside of the current kitchen.
We have also reinstated the posts and ring beam for the veranda .We haven't got the money at this stage to fit the roofing iron. The beams for the deck are in position, but no decking.
We have stripped five rooms of the original sarking (timber boards) and replaced that with Gib or plasterboard and fitted insulation. Four of these rooms are painted and in use. The fifth is the proposed new kitchen, where we are currently holding back a bit.
We have moved the bathroom that was on the northern side on the deck to a previous bedroom. We are currently working on finishing touches, like architraves on the window and door and tiling. The bathroom is already in use.
Every job we tackle tends to explode into something much bigger. Windows need to be repaired and repainted, doors and door frames need sanding and repair, damaged ceilings need repair.
I am enjoying every moment of it, and get wonderful support from Elna. My health is better than two years ago.
Now a brief report on the last week's activities.
We managed to repair our car on Monday. On Tuesday we went to Hamilton for routine medical checks. We also picked up a nice kitchen unit with four large drawers, ideally suited for pots and pans. Willie, a South African friend is visiting at this stage. He sleeps in the new kitchen (to be)and will assist in the manufacture of our Patio Door Frames. He came over on Wednesday and most of the remainder of the week was spent catching up and preparing for the door frame. We had to move a lot of timber around to clear a proper work area. Moving stuff around seems to be the story of my life.
We are into winter now, but it is not really cold yet, only rainy. Our average day temperatures is 15 deg and the minimum night temp was 4. We can clearly feel the benefit of the insulation in the walls.
Sunday
9 June 2013
What a week!!
We went to pick up the kitchen units we had stored with friends. All went well. Because of our small trailer, we had to do two trips. We stacked it all on the back veranda. Then Elna got concerned that we could get rain damage to the units. So I cleared all the tools and material from the kitchen to be, with the intention to store the units in a corner. Remember, we still have to install a new ceiling and stop and paint the walls. Well, we moved the units to their proposed position, just to see how it looks. It is nearly right, except for the position for the dishwasher, that is too narrow.
While we were at it, we went to see a kitchen joiner to find if he could help with some matching counter tops. We need more than we have got. Sorry, the line was discontinued years ago. The finish on the doors is Melteca, in wood grain, even that has been discontinued. We will let it simmer for a while, we might even paint it all white. Gloss white is the fashion of the day an I know a good spray painter.
On Saturday we were on our way to Hamilton to pick up another kitchen unit. We just got to Te Awamutu when the car packed up. Turns out a wrong CV joint has been fitted at some stage. Now we have no transport, and are trying to get the right part. Maybe Monday.
What a week!!
We went to pick up the kitchen units we had stored with friends. All went well. Because of our small trailer, we had to do two trips. We stacked it all on the back veranda. Then Elna got concerned that we could get rain damage to the units. So I cleared all the tools and material from the kitchen to be, with the intention to store the units in a corner. Remember, we still have to install a new ceiling and stop and paint the walls. Well, we moved the units to their proposed position, just to see how it looks. It is nearly right, except for the position for the dishwasher, that is too narrow.
While we were at it, we went to see a kitchen joiner to find if he could help with some matching counter tops. We need more than we have got. Sorry, the line was discontinued years ago. The finish on the doors is Melteca, in wood grain, even that has been discontinued. We will let it simmer for a while, we might even paint it all white. Gloss white is the fashion of the day an I know a good spray painter.
On Saturday we were on our way to Hamilton to pick up another kitchen unit. We just got to Te Awamutu when the car packed up. Turns out a wrong CV joint has been fitted at some stage. Now we have no transport, and are trying to get the right part. Maybe Monday.
2 June 2013
Well, we fitted the tiles to the top of the bathroom vanity. Then priorities suddenly changed. While we waited for the tile adhesive to dry, Elna kept on wondering when the light in the bathroom will be fixed. See, we had to use the light from the streetlamp at night. Installing the switch was not straight forward. Originally, when I did the plasterboard in the bathroom, I left an area next to the door open in case the plumber wanted to install his vent pipe there. So, I started finishing that part off, and eventually fitted the required light switch.
We were still fiddling around on that when the letting agent called: We had a sinkhole in the driveway in our Cambridge house.We went there with a trailer load of dirt (earth) and opened the hole. It turned out that when the soak holes were installed, they didn't back fill it properly, and a nice cavity developed. When the tenant drove over it, it collapsed. We dug it open to the root of the problem, filled it properly, and all's well.
But we had another outstanding problem, the next door neighbor requested that we do something about water running off our "Braai Lapa" so we tackled that while we were there. We installed more spouting. Should do the trick.
The rest of the week was spent on restoring the sliding sash window in the bathroom. Thank Goodness for proper tools. I was able to make all the required parts. Then sanding and painting, with light rain in between. The window had to be closed every night, so progress is slow. Might finish it this coming week.
We are also helping somebody to build a "sleepout" to be used as a beauty salon. Spent Saturday on that and hope to do the same tomorrow (a public holiday)
We also managed to buy two kitchen units for the new kitchen, an we are hoping to get another completer kitchen as well. If we manage that, the kitchen cabinets will be much easier to do.
Well, we fitted the tiles to the top of the bathroom vanity. Then priorities suddenly changed. While we waited for the tile adhesive to dry, Elna kept on wondering when the light in the bathroom will be fixed. See, we had to use the light from the streetlamp at night. Installing the switch was not straight forward. Originally, when I did the plasterboard in the bathroom, I left an area next to the door open in case the plumber wanted to install his vent pipe there. So, I started finishing that part off, and eventually fitted the required light switch.
We were still fiddling around on that when the letting agent called: We had a sinkhole in the driveway in our Cambridge house.We went there with a trailer load of dirt (earth) and opened the hole. It turned out that when the soak holes were installed, they didn't back fill it properly, and a nice cavity developed. When the tenant drove over it, it collapsed. We dug it open to the root of the problem, filled it properly, and all's well.
But we had another outstanding problem, the next door neighbor requested that we do something about water running off our "Braai Lapa" so we tackled that while we were there. We installed more spouting. Should do the trick.
The rest of the week was spent on restoring the sliding sash window in the bathroom. Thank Goodness for proper tools. I was able to make all the required parts. Then sanding and painting, with light rain in between. The window had to be closed every night, so progress is slow. Might finish it this coming week.
We are also helping somebody to build a "sleepout" to be used as a beauty salon. Spent Saturday on that and hope to do the same tomorrow (a public holiday)
We also managed to buy two kitchen units for the new kitchen, an we are hoping to get another completer kitchen as well. If we manage that, the kitchen cabinets will be much easier to do.
26 May 2013
Well, we have sanded the vanity down in the "new kitchen". Then we had to glue the tracks for the sliding doors on. The next step was putting a coat of acrylic (PVA) paint on it. Then I was undecided about the top coat of paint. Eventually we bought some white Automotive Paint, and sprayed the whole cabinet, inside and out. Luckily Thursday was a nice sunny day.
On Friday we took the vanity into the bathroom, connected the waste pipes, and glued the large tiles on the top, with the edges.
We had a Church Camp over the weekend, starting Friday late afternoon, so no more work was done. I think we achieved enough for the week.
Well, we have sanded the vanity down in the "new kitchen". Then we had to glue the tracks for the sliding doors on. The next step was putting a coat of acrylic (PVA) paint on it. Then I was undecided about the top coat of paint. Eventually we bought some white Automotive Paint, and sprayed the whole cabinet, inside and out. Luckily Thursday was a nice sunny day.
On Friday we took the vanity into the bathroom, connected the waste pipes, and glued the large tiles on the top, with the edges.
We had a Church Camp over the weekend, starting Friday late afternoon, so no more work was done. I think we achieved enough for the week.
Monday
20 May 2013
Just made it!!
The plasterboard in the new kitchen is all up, but not plastered yet.
We had a bit of a lazy week, with people visiting and so on and so forth. (so nice)
It started raining on Thursday ,and I could not go out to get the plasterboard for the ceiling (lame excuse, I know) So we started work on the bathroom vanity. We took it apart, measured the tiles we still needed, and went to town. We could not find a suitable tile for the edging. Eventually we cut some of the 100 mm high wall tiles in half. That will do. The next part of the job will be to sand the whole cabinet down and paint it.
I am wasting time sitting here writing this blog, so, if you will excuse me, I have to get to work.
Bye
Just made it!!
The plasterboard in the new kitchen is all up, but not plastered yet.
We had a bit of a lazy week, with people visiting and so on and so forth. (so nice)
It started raining on Thursday ,and I could not go out to get the plasterboard for the ceiling (lame excuse, I know) So we started work on the bathroom vanity. We took it apart, measured the tiles we still needed, and went to town. We could not find a suitable tile for the edging. Eventually we cut some of the 100 mm high wall tiles in half. That will do. The next part of the job will be to sand the whole cabinet down and paint it.
I am wasting time sitting here writing this blog, so, if you will excuse me, I have to get to work.
Bye
13 May 2013
Yes, I know, I am a day late. Sorry!!
We made good progress on the new kitchen. Added studs to correspond with the width of the plasterboard, and added the spacers required to get the thickness right. Then I went to get some more insulation (we had some left over from the last batch) and plasterboard. We managed to fit insulation to all the outside walls. Shaun, the grandson offered his help on Saturday, and we got the outside walls covered from the top (2.4 m). Next will be to do the bottom 1 m. I ran out of plasterboard and will need to get some more.
The inside wall towards the living room does not get covered yet, because we are planning a serving opening.
I also got hold of a backpack weed sprayer. I spent some time fixing it, mounted it on a trolley, and sprayed the weeds in part of the lawn.
This morning I got sidetracked. I resumed work on the storeroom I started some months ago. I had all the shelves already in, but no walls on two sides. I got some rain in my storage containers. It was such a lovely day, I just had to do outside work. I can report that the storeroom is finished now.
I also had to mow the grass. It is still growing, but I hope this will be the last cut before winter. Thank goodness for the ride on. In the meantime Elna is filling holes in the ground from the heap of dirt (earth) that is lying here.
Yes, I know, I am a day late. Sorry!!
We made good progress on the new kitchen. Added studs to correspond with the width of the plasterboard, and added the spacers required to get the thickness right. Then I went to get some more insulation (we had some left over from the last batch) and plasterboard. We managed to fit insulation to all the outside walls. Shaun, the grandson offered his help on Saturday, and we got the outside walls covered from the top (2.4 m). Next will be to do the bottom 1 m. I ran out of plasterboard and will need to get some more.
The inside wall towards the living room does not get covered yet, because we are planning a serving opening.
I also got hold of a backpack weed sprayer. I spent some time fixing it, mounted it on a trolley, and sprayed the weeds in part of the lawn.
This morning I got sidetracked. I resumed work on the storeroom I started some months ago. I had all the shelves already in, but no walls on two sides. I got some rain in my storage containers. It was such a lovely day, I just had to do outside work. I can report that the storeroom is finished now.
I also had to mow the grass. It is still growing, but I hope this will be the last cut before winter. Thank goodness for the ride on. In the meantime Elna is filling holes in the ground from the heap of dirt (earth) that is lying here.
Sunday
5 May 2013
Having worked a whole week, I wonder where my time went?
I have stripped all of the old sarking boards off the new kitchen. That created a lot of dust. Luckily I have borrowed a proper respirator, so it was not too bad.
With the timber removed, we could do a proper clean out. I used four vacuum cleaner bags. I still haven't installed all the wiring. Saturday was spent de-nailing all the boards, and putting them away.
Jaco turned up on Friday, so we worked all day on the frames for his sleep out.
Some time during the week, we also made some time to put up the last of the veranda posts. They go in pairs, and there is supposed to be scrolls between them. That is not done yet. (Oh, I forgot to say, it goes around the corner as well)
It looks much better now, but there is still a lot of work to be done. With the rainy season starting now, it is unlikely that I will be doing much more on the veranda. The deck is another story, that is on the long term list.
Now you can understand why I did the outer beam for the deck long ago. It all fits together now. Sometimes there is still some method in my madness
Well, If you will allow me, I will continue the work in the kitchen next week, with some new studs, insulation and plaster boarding.
Have a nice week!!
Having worked a whole week, I wonder where my time went?
I have stripped all of the old sarking boards off the new kitchen. That created a lot of dust. Luckily I have borrowed a proper respirator, so it was not too bad.
With the timber removed, we could do a proper clean out. I used four vacuum cleaner bags. I still haven't installed all the wiring. Saturday was spent de-nailing all the boards, and putting them away.
Jaco turned up on Friday, so we worked all day on the frames for his sleep out.
Some time during the week, we also made some time to put up the last of the veranda posts. They go in pairs, and there is supposed to be scrolls between them. That is not done yet. (Oh, I forgot to say, it goes around the corner as well)
It looks much better now, but there is still a lot of work to be done. With the rainy season starting now, it is unlikely that I will be doing much more on the veranda. The deck is another story, that is on the long term list.
Now you can understand why I did the outer beam for the deck long ago. It all fits together now. Sometimes there is still some method in my madness
Well, If you will allow me, I will continue the work in the kitchen next week, with some new studs, insulation and plaster boarding.
Have a nice week!!
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